Erich Franz Eugen Bracht
Encyclopedia
Erich Franz Eugen Bracht (b.1882-d.1969) was a German pathologist and gynaecologist who was a native of Berlin
.
After earning his doctorate, for several years he assisted pathologist Ludwig Aschoff
(1866-1942) in Freiburg
. Afterwards his interest switched to obstetrics
and gynaecology
, and he worked as a gynaecologist at Heidelberg
, and later in Kiel
under Hermann Johannes Pfannenstiel
(1862-1909), and eventually in Berlin
. In Berlin he was a professor at the University of Berlin as well as director of the Charité
Frauenklinik. After World War II he was a consultant of gynaecology and obstetrics during the American occupation of Berlin.
In Freiburg, Bracht made important contributions concerning the pathological study of rheumatic myocarditis
. From his research of this disorder, he described the eponymous "Bracht-Wachter bodies
", which are peri-vascular micro-abscesses in the myocardium seen in acute bacterial endocarditis
.
Bracht is also remembered for the Bracht manoeuvre (first described in 1935), which is a breech delivery that allows for delivery of the infant with minimum interference.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
After earning his doctorate, for several years he assisted pathologist Ludwig Aschoff
Ludwig Aschoff
Karl Albert Ludwig Aschoff was a German physician and pathologist. He is considered to be one of the most influential pathologists of the early 20th century and is regarded as the most important German pathologist after Rudolf Virchow.Aschoff was born in Berlin, Prussia...
(1866-1942) in Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
. Afterwards his interest switched to obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and gynaecology
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
, and he worked as a gynaecologist at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, and later in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
under Hermann Johannes Pfannenstiel
Hermann Johannes Pfannenstiel
Hermann Johannes Pfannenstiel was a German gynecologist who was a native of Berlin.In 1885 he received his doctorate in Berlin and afterwards worked as a hospital assistant in Posen. Later he moved to Breslau, where in 1896 he became an associate professor...
(1862-1909), and eventually in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In Berlin he was a professor at the University of Berlin as well as director of the Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
Frauenklinik. After World War II he was a consultant of gynaecology and obstetrics during the American occupation of Berlin.
In Freiburg, Bracht made important contributions concerning the pathological study of rheumatic myocarditis
Myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of heart muscle . It resembles a heart attack but coronary arteries are not blocked.Myocarditis is most often due to infection by common viruses, such as parvovirus B19, less commonly non-viral pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi or Trypanosoma cruzi, or as a...
. From his research of this disorder, he described the eponymous "Bracht-Wachter bodies
Bracht-Wachter bodies
Bracht-Wachter bodies are a finding in infective endocarditis consisting of yellow-white miliary spots in the myocardium.Histologically, these are collections of chronic inflammatory cells, mainly lymphocytes and histiocytes.-History:...
", which are peri-vascular micro-abscesses in the myocardium seen in acute bacterial endocarditis
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves . Other structures that may be involved include the interventricular septum, the chordae tendineae, the mural endocardium, or even on intracardiac devices...
.
Bracht is also remembered for the Bracht manoeuvre (first described in 1935), which is a breech delivery that allows for delivery of the infant with minimum interference.